Ugandan MPs back military deployment in South Sudan

January 14, 2014 (KAMPALA) – Ugandan lawmakers, at a special session held on Tuesday, supported its government’s decision to deploy the national army (UPDF) in South Sudan, despite the United Nations Security Council warnings against external interventions that could exacerbate the new nation’s conflict.

UPDF representative, Maj Gen Julius Oketta, speaks during the special session to discuss the deployment of UPDF soldiers in South Sudan (Daily Monitor)

Rebecca Kadaga, the speaker of the Ugandan parliament said the sitting was convened to update lawmakers on the deployment of the UPDF in Juba, but not to seek their approval on the matter as many had anticipated.

But it was the country’s defense minister Crispus Kiyonga who tabled the motion before lawmakers in compliance with Section 40 of the UPDF Act.

Several lawmakers, during a heated debate, said they supported UPDF presence in South Sudan provided they were there to ensure safety of Ugandans trapped in the weeks of violence.

Fighting erupted mid December in the capital, Juba after a dispute among presidential guards, but later spread to other parts of the country, killing in excess of 1,000 people and displacing 200,000.

South Sudan’s rebel leader Riek Machar has accused Ugandan troops of backing forces loyal to President Salva Kiir, calling for their withdrawal from the country.

“We support the deployment as long as it is for evacuation of our citizens from South Sudan. When a country is going to war, leaders consult widely; we should learn to work together. What’s happening in South Sudan is a result of bad governance,” opposition lawmaker Wafula Oguttu reportedly said.

“We don’t have sufficient resources to maintain another country in the neighborhood. The government is killing and the rebels are killing but for us to get involved we must get a clear mandate”, he added.

But Uganda’s Prime Minister, according to Daily Monitor newspaper, argued that the army was in South Sudan to avert an imminent threat from an “ungovernable” South Sudan.

“This is a case where unity must be demonstrated, this matter should not divide us,” said Amama Mbabazi, citing Article 209 of the Constitution, which sets out the army’s functions, including preserving and defending Uganda’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The army chief, Gen Katumba Wamala also argued that the situation in South Sudan was threatening Uganda’s security and thus the latter had all reasons to intervene.

“We have an obligation to see South Sudan stand as a nation”, he told Daily Monitor.

But Muwanga Kivumbi, an opposition lawmaker, accused President Yoweri Museveni of taking decisions without seeking parliamentary approval on matters of national interests.

“We want to know what kind of mandate the UPDF of Uganda in South Sudan will undertake and under whose invitation. Is it IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] or African Union?” he asked.

“Which arrangement are we in South Sudan? Or we are there as mercenaries to help Salva Kiir. We need to know these details”, Kivumbi told reporters in Kampala after Tuesday’s special parliamentary sitting.

President Museveni recently appointed Col. Kayanja Muhanga as overall commander of its army (UPDF) operations in South Sudan. His role, according to media reports, will mainly involve diplomacy, politics and military command.

(ST)

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15 January 2014 10:06, by Mi diit

Foolish Ugandan members of parliament, don’t cry next time when the Nuer go for tit-for-tat to Kampala to remove president Museveni. We will organize a rebellion in Uganda and send our forces to Kampala to fight against Museveni. We will also make sure Ugandans do not come to South Sudan. You are on the loser’s side, only that you don’t yet know it.

We are officially in war with Uganda. Well, ss never believed b4 that the Ugandan pple mean to invade us. Now whoever think less about this war thinks less about the sovereignty of this country. Kiir n Dinka tribesmen have betrayed this nation n will be charged for treason. They put this country on sale to Uganda, Sudan n others countries and make south Sudanese feel little brothers to Ugandan sha

Mi Diit
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni also views the prospects for a civil war in South Sudan as unsettling. Since South Sudanese independence in 2011, Uganda has sought to position itself as an influential investor in the new country by integrating road, rail and energy infrastructure with South Sudan. Such investment will clearly be undermined by long-term instability in South Sudan.

Given that Uganda’s oil fields are situated within 200 miles of the South Sudanese border, Uganda’s emerging economy similarly has much to lose from any spillover effects of the conflict. Museveni has stated that Kampala wants to play an active role in pushing both sides toward a peaceful settlement. Moreover, if the White Army militia does not abide by any ceasefire,

Museveni hinted at a Ugandan military campaign to disarm the rebels. Kampala is clearly in favor of President Kiir maintaining power and South Sudan restoring greater stability, given Juba’s role as a strategic ally of Uganda.

@Mi diit
What are you ranting on here? If Uganda decides to close her boarder and refuse to allow anything to South Sudan do you know that the outcome would be worse than the current crises? Are going to be eating your Nuer flesh. No wonder you Nuer will continue dying like animals being hit with epidemics beacuse of your stupid tribal mentality brought by your evil wanna be President Riak

You are dreaming my friend. Nuer White Army will never defeat anybody. They like to run their mouth and fight senseless war. You will never win any war. What did you achieve with 1991 war? Nothing. Nada...but senseless war. What are you going to get out of this war? The same answer. Zero... So why don’t you shot up and eat whatever dinkas give you. We, the Dinkas people and wise Nuers are sleeping

Mi digit,
Why do u write like you or your uncle Dr.defector Riek Machar is already in charge of South Sudan? It took Dr. Defector Riek ten years (1991-2002) to be in charge of South Sudan through NCP in Khartoum but failed and returned to the very SPLM/A where he got a position and wealth in a golden plate and does not want to respect the liberators. How many times do u want me to tell u that ....

....Dr. Defector Riek will never rule South Sudan? Getting involved in tribal war based on hatred of Dinka or Nuer who refused to join Dr. Defector is not difficult. We can get involved in a day and get rid of Dr. Fool Defector Riek in one month if it takes that long. If we get involved the way Dr Fool is conducting his war, believe me or not u will be no more no.2 after Dinka.

Dr. Fool Riek Machar is the rated the most stupid PhD holder in the continent of Africa as a whole. He knows that even Khartoum proved to him when he was in bed with NCP from 1991- 2002 until he voluntarily left Khartoum for Nairobi without saying bye-bye. If he failed to prove Ngundeng’s prophecy to NCP that Nuers are warriors, why should he bother himself or white army to fight mighty SPLA?

We already paid the price for inclusivity granted by the President of South Sudan without appreciation from Dr. Defector Riek Machar and his followers who rushed from Diaspora including Khartoum that "South Sudan is a free nation" with intention of eyeing the top job that Dr, defector does not deserve at all in human history. Thanks God for that. No more after this senseless killings.

Nuer, stop making noise on websites, you need to fight because that is the path you choose,why are you crying about the consequences of war? worse is still yet-your dead militia are surround in Bor and Malakal and they are now confuse and they will be collected anytime. This is another lesson you want because fool understand through eyes.

I for one do not want Uganda to get entangled in our conflict as i do also do not want any other cousin country to get involved in our internal affairs. The criminals in the West as usual are even urging slow learners countries like Ethiopia & Kenya, to get involve because Uganda is sought to have involved in S Sudan; so that the criminals in the West will sell their Weapons....

to Kenya & Ethiopia to fight for their little world WW3-like against Chinese in S Sudan’s oil fields on behave of the US & the Europeans. Cold war-like 1960th Congo West war against Rusia is being replayed in S Sudan against Chinese because the West wants to usurp a ready made oil infrastructure by Chinese & the West wants it because the West is always entitles to other peoples’....

infrastructures. And so Japan, the Chinese rivaler on the on the South China sea was dispatch by the West, the Japanese defeaters, to come to Africa’s *Brussels or Washington* to come & tell Africans usual stories that Japan, Europe & the US are your good guys, China? bad guys & that our usual bribes (aids) that often end up in Africa’s Brussels or Washington ( Adis Ababa) will continue to follow.

...our banks are going busts & we need a cold war-like game in S Sudan & N Sudan to toss out Chinese & even in C.A.R & Congo just as we did in Libya to refill our pockets. Support Riek Machar, Rail Odinga is just waiting there for the game to re-flare up again in Kenya, the West needs your help. Our African bosses in Africa’s Brussels or Washington would then say.Don’t worry, S Sudan can be...

easily bullied as usual to accept our terms. Little do our slow learners in our esteemed Adis Ababa or Nairobi understand that the game here is all about our countries being re-colonized & our resources be re-stolen by the Europeans , the US & Nile waters to be drawn to Arab worlds & Israel. But our African leaders as usual are still playing babies to the Europeans, Arabs or the US intrigues...

The caliber of our politicians like our Riek Machar are always the sole causes of our African ills just like the tragedy that we are warding off right now in S Sudan. Our elders seemed to be well educated but beneath, they are just full of their personal egos, l myself included; but i know in my humble heart, i can’t do what Mr. Riek Machar has done to our country...

Dr. Riek has shamed S Sudanese all over the world, but he is not in the slightest with his PHD sitting down & think that he has betrayed a lot young S Sudanese who do not want their people killed or their country destroyed in our peace time. Instead, he uses his Western corporate media propaganda with glee that he is doing the right thing to S Sudanese...

The US and Europe was incessantly campaigning for last year Raila Odinga against Huru Kenyatta. But the Kenyans didn’t buy the US-Europeans anointed Odinga to be their president. Raila Odinga, Riek Machar, Joseph Kony & President Obama are our East African traitors. They love their egos than our peoples’ interest....

The US of ole A has a scheme with its Britain counterpart has a scheme called *training young African leaders in leadership skills* an AFRICOM off shot of former president foreign policy to wards Africa, scheme was first tried in North Africa & Middle East & it exploded on the self appointed *world polices faces* Tunisia, Mali, Algers Libya, Egypt & Syria.....

Lazy thinkers and fools like you always accuse others for your presonal failures. UPDF in SS is "rape", bcoz the SS has no sovereignity anymore. Soon Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, merceneries, will all want to join and rip off a chunk of this failed state. Kiir has no power and needs help. He has sold our pride and dignity cheaply. What a human waste! You are the Problem NOT the WEST as alluded.

They already came to South Sudan since the war has began, we need not to bother ourselves only to deal with them. Nuer territorial would not and will never be invaded by outsiders. We have to fight them to teeth. I am now celebrating the defeat of Dinka tribe by. Nuer mighty. Wec e wecda, M7 soldiers deserted when they enter South Sudan land knowing that their lives are coming to an end.

Museveni will never forget his expansionist dreams, but he will certainly drown himself in this quagmire!A strong man like Garang would have never allowed this!May be he was made to "die" to be replaced by a weaker leader!

Mohammed Ali2,
So know now Dr. John was a very strong man, really? How about Israel people? Are they strong men? Israel knows how to teach Arabs very dear lessons. Instead of putting your nose into the business of South Sudan people, why don’t you go and liberate Arab lands from Israel. Wicked lair.

@ South Sudan. I like the way you are dealing with these Arabs. Every time this Mohamuth porked his head into our affairs, you are the first to response. This is the spirit of nationalism that we need in South Sudan and not to devour ourselves with this senseless war among ourselves. Some people will live to regret instigating it for others to enjoy while non of their relatives suffers in this war

Mohd Ali 2,you are right, it becomes a b norms for Ugandan to killed our leaders in South Sudan.In 1965,they collaborated with Sudan Security at de time by killed the first Anya Anya One leader Bishop of Torit Sururino Luthure in Uganda. In 2005,dictator Yoweri Museveni his puppet Salva Kiir both conspired to kill our Hero Dr John Garang.Moreover,in 2011, Salva Kiir n Museveni teamed up to kill

Lt Gen George Athor Deng Dut in Kampala.In 2013/14 they are now team up to assassinated our populist,democratic n charismatic leader Dr Riek Machar Teny.What a conspiracy or joke? Salva Kiir doesn’t know the importance of being sovereign State whereby the National Army SPLA soldiers have constitutional right to defense RSS’ territory n its integrity.Now! What is the fate of SPLA soldiers now?

If SPLA are really National Army rather than been Tribal Army they would question the status of foreign mercenaries in their mid-UPDF,JEM,SRF N SPLA-N. I appeal to real SPLA soldiers not to die in vain for genocidal regime of Salva Kiir n his foreign invaders.Siblings join the pro- freedom fighters to oust Kiir’s painful rotted regime nowwwwww

Dear S. Sudanese. Uganda Government took part in fighting killed 2000 Nuer civilian in Juba. Please if you see Ugandan in South Sudan, don’t wait kill him before you are kill by his soldiers like Dinka. Don’t kill women and children.

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